Posted by:
Chris_McMartin
at Tue Aug 17 20:48:14 2010 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Chris_McMartin ]
Is there a contact for that station to demand a correction? I would like to bombard them with a bunch of people writing in to get their facts straight.
Found but a single relevant email address:
assignmentdesk@wgbb.com
And here's what I sent:
Hello,
A link to your story on an alleged "anaconda" was sent to me by a concerned individual. I hope that you issue a correction to your story--provided you check the information I am providing you here, as it is readily apparent to the casual observer that due dilligence was not carried out in initially reporting this story.
- The snake is NOT an anaconda; it's not even an "exotic" snake. It's a bullsnake, or gopher snake, of the genus _Pituophis_. In other words, this is a snake that is NATIVE to the United States, and from the video on your story, it appears to be a full-grown individual. Bullsnakes and gopher snakes grow to about 6 feet in length--nowhere near the "18 feet" espoused by the exterminator.
- The picture accompanying the story (behind Mr. Cline in the video) IS a photograph of a green anaconda. Look at the picture of the anaconda and compare it to the snake found in the apartment. Not even close in appearance.
- Bullsnakes and gopher snakes ARE readily available in the pet trade, including as long-term (over multiple generations) domestically-produced individuals. They hiss as a defense mechanism but are generally docile and DO make suitable pets if one cares for them properly. They AREN'T that expensive to feed, unlike the "expert" exterminator in the segment suggests. In fact, they are much cheaper to maintain than the average dog or cat.
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- About the only thing the piece got right was that the caging was inadequate, and this was readily apparent.
I encourage you to not merely take my word for it, but to do even a cursory Google image search for "bullsnake" and "anaconda" and verify the species identification I've suggested here. To leave the story as-is without broadcasting a correction does great harm to our native snakes, as people watching your news program could encounter these SAME SNAKES in the wild and mistakenly believe we're being overrun with "exotic anacondas." Furthermore, it maligns an entire growing segment of the US population who derives great personal satisfaction and enjoyment from maintaining snakes and other reptiles in their home with no problems whatsoever.
The favor of a reply to this email is requested.
Sincerely,
Chris McMartin
Reptile Enthusiast and Keeper since 1982
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
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RE: Anaconda?...What!? - Chris_McMartin, Tue Aug 17 20:48:14 2010